UPDATE—July 11, 2023: Good news! The NuFace Trinity Starter Kit is on sale for 30% off for Amazon Prime Day 2023, which is the most we’ve ever seen it discounted. That means you have today and tomorrow, July 12 to snag this celeb-loved microcurrent device that’s meant to sculpt cheekbones and jawlines for in-office-like results. If you need any more convincing: It’s one of the best Prime Day 2023 beauty deals and a former Glamour Beauty Award Winner. Ready to add to cart, now?
ORIGINAL—August 10, 2020: Let’s start with the obvious: The NuFace is not exactly a new device. Sure, I’d heard of it and read all the glowing NuFace reviews on the internet. But I’m one of those people who try something cool a few times and then eventually bury it in the graveyard under the sink, where it enters the afterlife alongside a facial cleansing brush, five body brushes, a tooth-whitening system, a derma roller, and all of their respective cords.
Under lockdown, though, skin care devices have had something of a revival. Have you heard of that one study that found people would rather give themselves electric shocks than be left alone with their thoughts? I’ve been feeling like that, but for my face. And while I’m not saying that I can’t sit still for 20 minutes, it has been a long 18 months. What else do I have to do besides electrocute myself to perfection?
How does NuFace work?
Fortunately, the NuFace doesn’t actually feel like an electric shock. Rather, it uses gentle microcurrent technology to offer legitimate skin benefits. “Microcurrent units stimulate muscles and tighten skin, giving a lifted effect to brows, eyes, jawline, cheeks, and neck,” says Francesca Fusco, MD, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai in New York City, who’s not affiliated with the brand. “It stimulates collagen, circulation, and wound healing.”
The initial investment is large—at over $300, it’s not exactly cheap. However, when you consider the payoff of actually using it versus getting procedures done down the road (injectables, lasers, that sort of thing), the cost doesn’t seem so steep. However, you’ll also need a NuFace gel primer to make it worthwhile (more on that later), so keep that in mind.
Back to the NuFace. I had some specific goals in mind: I wanted to keep my forehead smooth, tighten my jawline, and lift my cheeks enough that my smile lines disappeared. That’s a tall order for a noninvasive skin care device—and one that is supposedly painless, no less. Still, when I was first learning how to use NuFace, I was pretty skittish about the potential discomfort, as I’d read about heat and tingling in some of the NuFace reviews I’d come across. And since I once passed out at the sound of a nurse unwrapping an IV…let’s just say my pain threshold is very low.
How do you use the NuFace?
The first few times I tried it, I followed the instructions for NuFace found on the included pamphlet to the letter: three glides on one side of my neck three times, three glides on one cheek three times, three swipes up one side of my forehead three times—then repeat it all on the other side of your face. Each swipe lasts a few seconds and ends in an automated beep.
